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Swine Flu Precautions for Back to School
Back-to-school Swine Flu (H1N1) precautions and treatment
With summer winding down and schools preparing to reopen, another possible H1N1 virus outbreak poses a threat to the 6-24 year old age group which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has targeted as being at high risk for contracting the virus.
At this time, the CDC does not consider novel H1N1 “swine” flu to be more dangerous than other types of seasonal flu, but it does state that the disease burden of swine flu is greater on young people.
Dr. Martha Howard offers parents her advice for effective ways to protect children from getting the disease.
Avoid close contact with sick people. Dr. Howard advises children carry tissues and hand sanitizer, and know how to use them: Sneeze or cough into the tissue, throw it in the wastebasket (not on the desk); Put a dime size blob of hand sanitizer on hands and rub together until dry. She also warns against children sharing drinks or food, and not to touch their eyes nose or mouth with their hands.
Vaccination Precautions Dr. Howard says it is not wise to receive swine flu vaccination for grade school children at this time. “There are generally about 100 child deaths per year in the United States from flu. Even if that is doubled by swine flu, I do not feel it is worth the risk of exposing your child to possible long-term problems with immunity,” she reports.
- The vaccines being developed are to contain the “adjuvant”—a chemical that induces greater immune response—squalene, which is known to cause a harmful immune response in rats resembling rheumatoid arthritis.
- There are currently no other vaccines containing squalene that have been approved for use in the United States.
Natural and Homeopathic Alternatives A recent study reported in American Family Physician Journal (August 2009), showed that elderly patients taking 600 milligrams of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) twice daily over the flu season were much less likely to have clinical influenza illness (29% vs. 51% of controls), and when they did have it, episodes were much less severe. In addition, cell mediated immunity was improved in the people receiving NAC, and not in the controls.
Dr. Howard recommends giving children N-acetylcysteine in a dose that is proportional by weight to the adult dose of 600 milligrams twice a day. (A 70 pound child would be given 300 milligrams twice a day. A 35 pound child would be given 150 milligrams twice a day, and so on. For children under 2, consult a physician.)
Treatment for Children who Contract the Virus Dr. Howard recommends supportive treatment: rest, fluids, and Chinese herbs.
- The combination of two readily available formulas, Zhong Gan Ling and Yin Chiao Chieh Du Pian (both available online) is effective for treating flu.
- Keep children home if they are sick for 7 days after symptoms begin or until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
Emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention, according to the CDC:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
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What You Need to Stay Healthy When Going Back to School/College
Back-to-School: Back-to-college: What meds you need, how to keep from spreading germs
Released on 07/24/2009, at 3:35 PM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
So, what’s in a well-stocked college student’s medicine cabinet?
* Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief or fever
* Antacid like Tums, Rolaids, Maalox or Mylanta for stomach upset
* Antihistamine for runny nose due to allergy or colds (chlorpheniramine or Claritin)
* Decongestant for stuffy nose due to colds (pseudoephedrine)
* Saline nasal spray for nasal congestion
* Throat lozenges or hard candy for sore or irritated throat
* Antibacterial ointment, like Polysporin
* Aloe vera gel for burns and skin irritations
* 1 percent hydrocortisone cream for insect bites and skin irritations
General medical supplies:
* Adhesive bandages of various sizes for small wounds and blisters
* Gauze and tape for larger wounds
* Elastic wrap (ACE Wrap)
* Ice pack
* Heating pad
* Thermometer
* Sun screen, SPF 15 or greater
* Tweezers and small scissors
* Insect repellent
* Lip balm
* Skin moisturizer
* Hand sanitizer
Students may have also heard something about a pandemic flu. The novel H1N1 flu is continuing to spread through the summer and is expected to erupt again in the fall when students are back in close contact. Young people also appear to be more prone to the infection than other populations. In Nebraska, the illnesses caused by novel H1N1 have been relatively mild and not generally responsible for lingering illnesses, complications or hospitalizations, according to University Health Center Director Dr. James Guest.
UNL began preparing for and monitoring the H1N1 flu spreading in April, and continues to watch the situation closely, Guest said. College students may be particularly affected because of their close proximity in residence halls, greek houses and classes, and if they become ill, may live far enough that going home isn’t possible. That leaves the great possibility that ill students will be fighting off the flu in their residence halls. UNL has an action plan in place to deal with large-scale infections and works closely with the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department and the state Health Department to monitor illness outbreaks and to communicate with the university community, if necessary, about responses to illness outbreaks. Other school systems would do the same.
Tips UNL is sharing with its students to help avoid the spread of the virus or other germs:
* Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use a hand sanitizer product if soap and water isn’t available.
* Cough or sneeze into your arm or sleeve.
* Stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.
* Avoid kissing and hugging if you are sick.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
* Stay home from school if sick, and stay away from sick people until they are better.
* Do not share water bottles or eating utensils.
* Eat well, exercise regularly, and get adequate sleep.
* Drink water frequently to prevent dehydration.
For more on how to prevent or respond to the emergencies including spreading illnesses, visit http://emergency.unl.edu/.
Sometimes is difficult to tell when you’re going to get better on your own, or when it’s time to get some medical care. Although not an inclusive list, here are some common reasons for coming to the health center:
* Fever over 100 with sore throat or fever persisting for more than two days with no improvement.
* Persistent cough or cough with difficulty in breathing.
* Persistent vomiting and/or diarrhea for more than 8 hours or has blood in stool or is associated with pain.
* Injuries or lacerations
* Severe pain
* Head injury or severe or worsening headache.
* Bleeding that won’t stop.
* Painful urination
* Skin sores that are red, tender to the touch, have pus, or red streaks going up the extremity.
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Brilliant suggestions here with one thing missing:
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Healthy Gadgets at a Great Price for Back to School
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Beat the Flu with an Affordable Waterproof Keyboard
To help beat the flu this season we’ve cut the price of our most popular waterproof keyboard by 50% – Everyone can afford one: it’s “Better Hygiene For All”.
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Swine Flu Spreads Similarly To Other Influenza Viruses
Center for Disease Control–May 4th 2009
Transmission
Transmission of novel influenza A (H1N1) is being studied as part of the ongoing outbreak investigation, but limited data available indicate that this virus is transmitted in ways similar to other influenza viruses. Seasonal human influenza viruses are thought to spread from person to person primarily through large-particle respiratory droplet transmission (e.g., when an infected person coughs or sneezes near a susceptible person). Transmission via large-particle droplets requires close contact between source and recipient persons because droplets do not remain suspended in the air and generally travel only a short distance (< 6 feet). Contact with contaminated surfaces is another possible source of transmission and transmission via droplet nuclei (also called “airborne” transmission). Because data on the transmission of novel H1N1 viruses are limited, the potential for ocular, conjunctival, or gastrointestinal infection is unknown. Since this is a novel influenza A virus in humans, transmission from infected persons to close contacts might be common. All respiratory secretions and bodily fluids (diarrheal stool) of novel influenza A (H1N1) cases should be considered potentially infectious.
Incubation period
The estimated incubation period is unknown and could range from 1-7 days, and more likely 1-4 days.
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Considering the above information, purchasing washable keyboards and mice for your home and business is a healthy idea. Keyboards easily become filthy and are typically difficult to clean. However, with this waterproof durable silicon keyboard and heavy duty keyboard that is also a sanitary keyboard that can be purchased at Wetkeys.com, you’ll feel as though your family and employees are safer.
11 Tips On Being Environmentally Friendly When Going Back To School
Livescience Staff– 21 August 2007 12:59 pm ET
4) Look for the FSC label on pencils and paper. Many paper products are made from trees specifically grown and harvested for papermaking, thus sparing delicate rainforest ecosystems. The Forest Stewardship Council certifies that wood and paper products are grown and managed responsibly.
5) Purchase supplies with minimal packaging. Packaging makes up about a third of the garbage that piles up in landfills. Also, less processing and packaging means less energy goes into production, and less global warming pollution is created.
6) Brown bag meals and avoid plastic. Pack school lunches in brown, unbleached, recycled paper bags whenever possible. And if your child has a favorite superhero, there’s a good chance the character is printed on a re-usable lunchbox.
7) Prepare lunches using local produce. Be aware of the distance food travels and the emissions necessary to ship and truck it there. Although broccoli is grown at nearby farms, the ones that shoppers pick up at the supermarket traverse an average distance of 1,800 miles.
Refill water bottles. Don’t throw them away. One and a half million tons of plastic are used to bottle water every year. Such large-scale manufacturing and disposal of water bottles can release toxic chemicals into the environment.
9) Look for laptops made by companies working to reduce their global emissions. The ENERGY STAR sticker is a good tip-off that a product is compliant with EPA guidelines. Some backpacks even have built-in solar panels to provide an eco-friendly way to power laptops. Also, turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
10) Walk or bike to school, not only to get exercise but also to benefit the environment. By burning calories walking, you and your child don’t burn a vehicle’s gasoline and thus do your part to help reduce global warming. Surely, the PE instructor will approve.
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As a green consumer, I’d like to add one more tip to this list:
11) Purchase a low cost, high quality waterproof, washable keyboard and mouse from Man & Machine at Wetkeys.com. Not only are these sanitary keyboards, but they won’t destroy the environment. They are durable keyboards and heavy duty keyboards.
Awesome Washable, Heavy Duty Keyboards A Steal!
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It’s also a flexible silicone keyboard and one of the most durable washable keyboards out there! Even better, the cleanability of this thing may decrease your chances of catching deadly bugs like Swine Flu, especially if you share your keyboard.
Schools Should Remain Open When Swine Flu Strikes
According to Bloomberg, swine flu outbreaks shouldn’t close U.S. schools this fall unless so many students or teachers get sick that it interferes with teaching or puts the students at risk, U.S. health officials said.
The pandemic flu, also known as H1N1, can no longer be contained by closing schools, and the disruptions caused by closures outweigh the public health benefits, according to guidelines posted today on the Health and Human Services Department’s Web site. The guidelines, based on lessons learned earlier this year, cover the nation’s 55 million students and 7 million staff members at 130,000 public and private schools.
Health officials around the world are completing plans to deal with widespread outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere beginning in September. That’s when cooler temperatures and the return to schools may fuel the biggest flu epidemic in decades.
Since US Health Officials recommend schools remain open – washing and disinfecting the computer keyboard and mouse that students and teachers share may be the most important and most overlooked safety procedure that must become standard practice. WETKEYS.com offers a vast selection of cleanable keyboards and mice.
Schools Should Remain Open When Swine Flu Strikes
Nurses offer tips for surviving a hospital stay
CNN reports that as many as 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals each year as a result of medical errors, according to an Institute of Medicine report. Some 99,000 people die each year from infections acquired in the hospital, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Given the dangers lurking in hospitals, we asked several nurses to give us their suggestions about what steps to take to protect yourself and your family.
1. Bring in a list of the medications you’re taking
2. Make sure the hospital gets your name right
3. Ask about every medication they give you
4. Make sure everyone washes hands – In the Consumer Reports survey, 26 percent of the nurses reported observing hand-washing lapses.The National Patient Safety Foundation gives advice on infection in hospitals.
The National Patient Safety Foundation offer advice on preventing infections in hospitals.
Cleaning a washable keyboard has proven to help stop the spread of infectious diseases. Replacing regular keyboards with cleanable keyboards is an excellent approach to help prevent the spread of infection in hospitals.
Nurses offer tips for surviving a hospital stay
Parents and Educators Need to Work Together to Avoid a Swine Flu Outbreak Among Children
According to Brisbane News protecting our children agianst Swine Flu requires a team effort.
Parents and teachers need to work together to avoid an increase in swine flu cases as children go back to school, NSW Health says. “Schools play an important role in reinforcing good hygiene practices and helping parents and children understand how to minimise the spread of infection,” Dr Chant said. “It is important parents keep their children away from school if they develop influenza-like symptoms and we ask families, friends and the wider community to work together to make this happen wherever possible.”
One big way that schools and parents can work together is by installing washable keyboards at home and around schools. These cleanable keyboards are sanitary keyboards and also heavy duty keyboard, a durable keyboard, and a waterproof keyboard. You can wipe them down with antibacterial soap. I purchased mine at Wetkeys.com.
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